Weather Report: Tom Skilling 7-Day Forecast WGN-TV Weather Center

Thundery deluge floods Rockford, stranding residents/motorists

September 05, 2006|By Tom Skilling

Serious flooding hit Rockford's southeast side Monday afternoon turning Labor Day into a nightmare for many. Stranded motorists and residents had to be evacuated by boat--rescues still underway late Monday evening. Long-time residents, including 28-year Rockford resident Bob Ellison characterized the flooding as the worst he'd seen in all his years there. Flood waters, which first submerged sections of the city's east side mid-afternoon expanded westward, engulfing homes and businesses over a swath of the city estimated as much as five miles in length and four to five blocks wide. Hours of thunderstorms, which became heavy around 3 p.m., reduced visibilities to fractions of a mile while producing wind gusts as high as 30 m.p.h. Hail, in some instances the size of golf balls, bombarded surrounding areas, covering the ground at some locations. Vehicles were submerged up to window-level, and basement windows were reported blown out by the force of the flood water.

----------

Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.